Galt's Gulch

William Buckley on Ayn Rand & Atlas Shrugged

Posted by richrobinson 11 years, 8 months ago to The Gulch: General
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I am not sure if this has been posted before. A conservative friend of mine talked about the relationship between Ayn Ran ad William Buckley. I watched this interview and thought it was interesting.

SOURCE URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KmPLkiqnO8

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  • Posted by Herb7734 11 years, 8 months ago
    Buckley was as far off the mark as a bowman using rubber suction cup arrows. He talks about A.R. and her philosophy like someone reading a Cliff's Notes pamphlet with half the pages missing.
    Buckley is an OK guy when it comes to capitalism vs socialism and all the illustrations of the meanings and differences of both. But when it comes to basic premises, he's way off the mark. In this particular interview, the smarminess of the interviewer and the acceptance of it by Buckley does make me want to pop a Zantac or two.
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    • Posted by richrobinson 11 years, 8 months ago
      I think that is Charlie Rose. He clearly enjoyed Buckleys criticism of Rand. Not exactly an objective interview.
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      • Posted by Herb7734 11 years, 8 months ago
        Ah yes, Charlie Rose. I wondered why I disliked him on sight.
        Ayn Rand was not a saint, and in some cases, not a very nice person. But I have yet to encounter a sharpness of intellect that comes anywhere near hers. Whether they can admit it or not, rather than projecting a Nazi-like image as they prefer to portray her, she had an exalted view of mankind. A fact that her critics miss because she threatens their entire belief system.
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  • Posted by tdechaine 11 years, 8 months ago
    He was always excruciatingly mocking of AR.
    And for an intellegent person, he was far too ignorant of her views. He overstates his association with her.
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    • Posted by richrobinson 11 years, 8 months ago
      Buckley is very much respected in the conservative community. I find it frustrating that he couldn't see past the religious differences they had. On the other hand from what I have read Rand was unyielding in her beliefs and most likely had a way of creating enemies of potential allies.
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      • Posted by Herb7734 11 years, 8 months ago
        She was unyielding because she knew she was right, and she expected others to have the same attitude. Unfortunately, that is often perceived as arrogance. I feel a certain kinship with her when some bubblehead speaks nonsense with great authority on a subject I have studied and struggled with and finally came to a conclusion on.
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      • Posted by tdechaine 11 years, 8 months ago
        First, Buckley - as a staunch conservative - disagreed on many more points with AR than religion. Second, AR's beliefs caused no such thing; e.g. Buckley could not have been an ally. He did not truly understand her beliefs.
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  • Posted by JCLanier 11 years, 8 months ago
    Richrobinson:
    Thank you!
    I watched various videos of Ayn Rand that came up with your selection... stunningly awesome this woman and a great debater for her philosophy. I hate to say it but if you have not read her books a great deal of her philosophy flys over the head. Her attackers are most always coming from ignorance based on emotional reactions that weep contradiction. Her (Rand) logic is a razors edge!
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  • Posted by wiggys 11 years, 8 months ago
    buckley acknowledges that AS is the BIGGEST selling book of all time. therefore Rand will be remembered for as long as the book is in print. however, does anybody mention one word that buckley has written? that will also be for all time.
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    • Posted by $ jlc 11 years, 8 months ago
      I recall having read (I think in a John Campbell article) that Buckley was the first person to make the word "ecology" popular in the media.

      Jan
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  • Posted by CarolSeer2014 11 years, 8 months ago
    All I really know about Buckley is that he is not Gore Vidal. I at one time confused the two because, well, they both had that pretentious, uber-intellectual viewpoint that only a philosophy/economics/political system that is totally incomprehensible is worthy of belief!
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